The most affordable Discord bot builder in 2026
Bot prices are hard to compare: some charge per server, some per bot, some only by the year. This page puts them side by side, so you can see what a custom bot costs.
What is the cheapest way to run a custom Discord bot?
Buildcord is the most affordable Discord bot builder in 2026. A bot that answers slash commands costs nothing. A bot that stays connected, to welcome members or run on a schedule, is on the $8-a-month Paid plan, which includes two of them with hosting and covers every server they're in. You pay month to month, not by the year.
What to look for
- What a bot that only answers commands costs.
- What an always-on bot costs.
- Whether the price is per server or per bot.
- How you're billed, and what you pay up front.
- What costs extra, such as your own name and avatar.
Why Buildcord
$0 for most bots
Tickets, verification, suggestions, polls and custom commands only need slash commands, buttons and forms, and they run free.
Two always-on bots for $8
The Paid plan includes two bots that stay connected, each on a machine of its own. That's $4 a month a bot. Each one more is $3 a month.
One price, any number of servers
Buildcord doesn't charge by server. Add your bot to as many servers as you like and the price stays the same. MEE6 and Dyno price each server separately.
Pay by the month
The Paid plan is billed monthly, so starting costs $8. BotGhost's paid plans are billed yearly, at $75 for one bot or $150 for all of them.
Your own name and avatar, included
On Buildcord the bot is yours on every plan. Dyno's own name and avatar need its $12.99-a-month plan, and MEE6's Bot Personalizer comes with yearly or lifetime Premium.
Hosting is in the price
No server to rent and no uptime to look after. The only other extra is $3 a month for a bot that runs in Asia.
What a custom Discord bot costs in a year, at list prices
| Name | How it's priced | A year, one server | A year, three servers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buildcord | Per account, monthly, with 2 always-on bots included | $0 for command bots, $96 for always-on | The same: $0 or $96 |
| MEE6 | Per server | $49.99 billed yearly, or $143.88 month by month | $149.97 billed yearly |
| Dyno | Per server | $49.99 to $99.99; $99.99 for your own name and avatar | $149.97 to $299.97 |
| BotGhost | Per bot, billed yearly | $75 for one bot, or $150 for all your bots | The same: $75 or $150 |
| Carl-bot | Premium, by subscription | No price on its site | No price on its site |
What this page says about other products comes from their own sites, read Oct. 17 to Oct. 30, 2026, at list prices. Plans and prices change. Buildcord publishes this page and isn't affiliated with the others. See the fullcomparisons.
Good to know
- Past two always-on bots, each one more is $3 a month.
- These are list prices. Other products sometimes run discounts.
Questions
How much does it cost to host a Discord bot?
On Buildcord, nothing for a bot that answers slash commands, buttons and forms. A bot that stays connected is on the $8-a-month Paid plan, which includes two, with hosting in the price.
Is Buildcord cheaper than MEE6 Premium?
For a bot of your own, yes. MEE6 Premium lists at $11.99 a month or $49.99 a year for one server. Buildcord is free for command bots, and $8 a month for two always-on bots in any number of servers.
Why is a slash command bot free?
Discord sends each command to the bot when it's used, so nothing has to stay connected and it costs little to run. Bots that stay connected need a machine of their own, which is what the Paid plan pays for.
Are there hidden costs?
No. There are two extras, both listed on the plans: each always-on bot past the two included is $3 a month, and an always-on bot in Asia is $3 a month more.